Batman: Arkham Asylum UK Review

The Dark Knight faces his darkest night.

As enemies are taken out, their buddies begin to panic, realising they're being dropped by an unseen enemy. Further buoyed by Joker's jibes, their heart-rates increase and calm patrols are quickly gripped by sheer panic, as thugs group together for protection and scour the shadows for danger. It's enormous fun, freaking Joker's henchmen out, and provides an additional challenge too, because you need to time your attacks with precision in order to pick off individuals when they break away from the group, darting down to deliver the knockout blow and fleeing back into the shadows before you're seen.

At this point it's worth mentioning one of very few gripes we have with the game. For the most part the enemies are relatively intelligent, teaming up to fight Batman as a group with individuals breaking off to pick up weapons before entering the fray once more. However, there were occasions when we were able to take down bad guys in plain view of their buddies, yet we managed to get away without raising suspicion. It was certainly an exception rather than the rule and overall didn't spoil our enjoyment of the game, but it happened on a couple of occasions.

The villains, especially Scarecrow, provide standout moments in the game.

Elsewhere, there's little to find criticism in the game. Rocksteady has struck a superb balance between action and intrigue, with puzzles and set-pieces helping to change the pace of the game. These vary in style and complexity, from breaking through security doors using one of Batman's many gadgets to more involving puzzles, such as tracking down Gordon after he's been kidnapped by Harley Quinn, using the cowl's computer to isolate traces of the commissioner's tobacco in the air. It's clever stuff but, more importantly, always intuitive, which is one of the game's many charms.

However, if we had to choose one part of the game that really impresses, it'd be the villains. From the moment Joker giggles onto the screen you can't help but admire the effort that's gone into getting each and every one spot on. From the voice casting to the character design and animation, Rocksteady deserves to be applauded for capturing the essence of the comic books superbly. The highlight is naturally Mark Hamill's Joker playing off against Batman, voiced by Kevin Conroy, but the recreation of some of Batman's most feared enemies – from Killer Croc to Bane and Poison Ivy – are sterling across the board. Special mention must go to Scarecrow though, whose fear gas plays tricks with Batman's mind to create some of the most memorable moments in the game for a long time. It's difficult to describe them without giving too much away, but think Metal Gear's Psycho Mantis crossed with Freddy Krueger and you're along the right lines.

Brute force doesn't always prevail and Batman must use his head to defeat foes too.

Arkham Asylum itself is also a highlight and there's much more than sterile corridors to explore. Indeed, once you reach the hospital grounds, you have much more freedom to explore, which you'll need to do in order to uncover all of the game's secrets. Riddler trophies are hidden throughout, plus there are Riddler challenges – clues to piece together by finding different locations and objects – and you'll need to solve them in order to unlock everything the game has to offer. Then there are Batman's gadgets, which you access as you gain more experience from taking out enemies.

What's particularly nice is that anything you unlock in the main game can be carried over into the Challenge modes. Divided into two modes, the aim of the Combat challenges is to take down each wave of enemies as quickly and efficiently as possible, with bonus points awarded for stringing long combos together and not taking a hit. Meanwhile, the aim of the Invisible Predator challenges is to take out enemies quickly, but using silent takedowns to eliminate all threats without being spotted. Your best scores are uploaded to online leaderboards, plus you're able to compare your skills against your mates in your friends list. With 16 to perfect, there're plenty to keep you coming back for weeks.

The Verdict

To describe Batman: Arkham Asylum as a comic book game,
while true, does it a huge injustice; it&#Array;s an
action adventure driven by a strong story, superb
presentation and blistering action, and one that has
heaps of appeal outside its core comic audience.
It&#Array;s hugely atmospheric and engrossing, its blend
of combat and stealth balanced superbly to deliver an
experience that&#Array;s easily as engaging as the Metal
Gear series. It&#Array;s not without its faults &#Array;
some of the Arkham guards look a bit plasticky and
occasionally Batman walks like his armoured Y-fronts
are a little tight &#Array; but these flaws are minor
and few and far between. Arkham Asylum may be an
ominous place, a hellhole filled with the most
villainous scum, but when walking its corridors is this
enjoyable who wouldn&#Array;t want to be committed?